Green Velo

This route makes a loop through the Cisowsko-Orłowiński Landscape Park and involves a number of ascents along the way, giving a total elevation gain of approximately 900 m. Although the route goes mainly through wooded areas, it still provides plenty of interesting views. You will mainly stay on local asphalt roads with little traffic, and the red bike trail that you will be following is very well marked, with a number of interesting historical monuments worth seeing. A convenient starting point is the most interesting town on the route – Raków.

Raków (0.0 km) → Drogowle (3.4 km) → Korzenno (9.7 km) → voivodeship road no. 764 (13.8 km) → Widełki (16.2 km) → Orłowiny (21.0 km) → Sędek (23.9 km) → Bardo (29.2 km) → Rembów (34.8 km) → Lipiny (37.1 km) → Raków (44.1 km)

• Lenght: 44.1 km
• Time: 4 hours (5-6 hours with sightseeing)
• Type: Cross, touring
• Elevation: 387 m
• 77% asphalt roads, 16% gravel roads, 5% unpaved roads, 2% bike paths
• Moderately difficult
• Marking very good, red bike trail

Getting there and starting out

You can leave your car in one of the car parks near the market square in Raków.

Technical description

The trail starts in the centre of Raków, with the first part of the route coinciding with the Green Velo trail, which follows along a red bike trail. Your first opportunity to take a break will come in the village of Drogowle. There is an MOR (Miejsce Obsługi Rowerzystów – Cyclist Service Point) by the Church of St. Andrew, and the ruins of a 19^th century manor house on the other side of the street. Or you could choose to take a break in a slightly more remote place about 800 m further along, on the Czarna River. When you reach the village of Korzenno, you will part ways with the Green Velo route and turn right, following the markings for the red bike trail. You’ll find that the road rises slightly as you are about to go between the two mountain ranges of Cisowskie and Ociesęckie. After a short stretch on a bike path parallel to voivodeship road no. 764, you'll then go back onto local roads. Ahead is Zamczysko peak (422 m above sea level), which you will go around from the north on a gravel road. As you enter the forest, that’s where the Orłowińskie Range begins, with quite a significant ascent. Along the way, you will pass the old mining village of Orłowiny. When you emerge from the forest, you will see some attractive panoramic views of the Łysogóry Mountains and the Jeleniowskie Range. For a convenient place to stop and rest, you might want to consider the Folk Art Centre in Sędek, which has a mini open-air beekeeping museum with shelters. Next comes a descent, followed by an ascent up towards Bardo, which is another stretch with interesting views. After yet another descent, you will reach Rembów and some mysterious castle remains. The loop will be completed when you arrive back in Raków from the east, partly using dirt paths, and then near the end back on the Green Velo route again.         

Attractions along the way

Raków

Built at the turn of the 17^th century, the Arian House is the grandest building in Raków, and it stands out for its late Renaissance style. The building, which dates back to the times of the Polish Brethren (or Arians), has frequently changed owners and served as an inn, a warehouse and a library, among other things. Today, it houses an exhibition about the history of the town and the Arian movement as a whole within Poland. This small town also has an interesting market square and two 17^th century churches: the Church of the Holy Trinity and the Church of St. Anne.

Arian House (also known as Wójt’s House), ul. J. Sienieńskiego 5/11

Church of St. Andrew in Drogowle

The church was erected in the years 1620–1630, and there was a definite reason why it was located here: the dominant religion at that time in Raków and the surrounding area was a Nontrinitarian Protestant denomination called Arianism, so Bishop Andrzej Lipski, the bishop of Kraków, decided to support the local Catholics by building a late-Renaissance church. The church was damaged during World War Two, however, and despite its subsequent reconstruction, its interior remains sparsely furnished. 

Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bardo

This Baroque-Classicist church dates back to 1789 and its most valuable interior elements are the baptismal font and the stoup, which were presumably from the former church that used to stand here. There is also a historic bell from 1411, called the bell of Jagiełło.

Castle ruins in Rembów

The remains of a castle can be found on a high wooded hill above the village. Built in the 14^th century, this defensive structure consisted of upper and lower parts with a tower and was probably erected by one of the knights from the Odrowąż family. It didn’t serve the owners for long, however, as it was dismantled in the first half of the 15^th century, with the furnishings moved to the palace in Kurozwęki.